Columbus Crew host Minnesota United at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field on Saturday, May 2, at 7:30 PM ET in an MLS clash that could shape both clubs’ early playoff picture.
The Crew arrive on back-to-back home wins — and a renewed belief that the erratic start to their campaign is behind them. The Loons have been one of the road’s more dangerous sides, but a home loss to LAFC on Saturday night chips away at their confidence heading east.
The narrative angle here is straightforward: a Columbus side rebuilding momentum against a Minnesota team that knows how to win away from Allianz Field. Goals feel likely — and so does a tight margin at the final whistle. Check our full soccer predictions page for more picks this weekend.
Best Bets & Predictions
| Market | Our Pick | Odds & Sportsbook | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTTS | Yes | -150 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐ | Both sides have scored in four of Minnesota’s games and Columbus have found the net in eight of theirs — two clinical attacks with no shortage of chances. |
| Correct Score | 2-1 Columbus Crew | +750 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐ | Columbus have won their last two home games with two goals scored, and with Yeboah likely to test the Crew backline, a one-goal game at home feels right. |
| Result | Columbus Win | -145 @ bet365 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Columbus are unbeaten in their last two at home and Minnesota arrive on the back of a defeat — form and home advantage tip this to the Crew. |
Our approach: anchor on the Result, add Abou Ali for goalscorer value.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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Prediction Markets: Live Odds & Win Probability
Note for US readers: Polymarket is now live for real-money trading in the US following its 2025 acquisition of QCX, a CFTC-regulated exchange, available in most states except Arizona, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Nevada and Ohio. New US users can claim a 100% deposit match up to $50 with code ACQUIRE05. Market prices shown are real-money figures from the Polymarket platform. Kalshi, also CFTC-regulated, trades in all 50 states.
Match-specific prediction market pricing for Columbus Crew vs Minnesota United has not yet surfaced at time of writing. The sportsbook read is the cleaner tool for this match. We’ll update here if and when Kalshi or Polymarket list the fixture.
Season Form & Standings
Columbus have climbed to eighth in the Eastern Conference on the back of a five-game stretch that delivered three wins, a draw, and a single defeat. Minnesota sit fifth in the West with 17 points from 10 outings, though their goal difference of -3 hints at a side that gives as good as it gets rather than one grinding out clean sheets. Check the full MLS standings for the latest conference picture.
| Eastern Conference | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Crew | 8 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 12 |
| Western Conference | Pos | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota United | 5 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 14 | -3 | 17 |
Potential Match-Winners
- Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew): Three goals and three assists from midfield, plus a team-high six big chances created and 21 successful dribbles in 10 outings. Arfsten is the engine between the Crew’s lines and the player Minnesota will need to pin down.
- Kelvin Yeboah (Minnesota United): Five goals in 10 matches, nine shots on target, eight successful dribbles. The Loons’ striker is a constant physical threat and travels well — he has scored in away fixtures this season.
- Joaquin Pereyra (Minnesota United): Three assists and six big chances created in 10 games, with 10 successful dribbles underlining his ability to manufacture openings. The attacking midfielder is Minnesota’s most dangerous creative force and the one most likely to unlock a compact Crew shape.
Head-to-Head
Columbus hold a narrow edge in recent history, with two wins to Minnesota’s one from the last five meetings in MLS — though MNUFC claimed an extra victory on penalties during the 2020 MLS is Back tournament. Three of those five games were decided by a single goal, and a draw is far from a rare outcome between these clubs — two of the five ended level. The Crew have the better record when hosting, though their last encounter, a 1-1 draw at Allianz Field in March 2024, underlines that Minnesota are never easy to beat.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2, 2024 | Minnesota United 1-1 Columbus Crew | MLS |
| Jul 29, 2020 | Columbus Crew 1-1 Minnesota United (MN win on pens) | MLS is Back |
| May 19, 2019 | Minnesota United 1-0 Columbus Crew | MLS |
| Oct 28, 2018 | Columbus Crew 3-2 Minnesota United | MLS |
| Jul 5, 2017 | Minnesota United 0-1 Columbus Crew | MLS |
Recent Form
Columbus Crew — W W L D W
- Apr 25, 2026: Columbus Crew 2-0 Philadelphia Union (Win, home)
- Apr 22, 2026: Columbus Crew 2-1 LA Galaxy (Win, home)
- Apr 18, 2026: New England 2-1 Columbus Crew (Loss, away)
- Apr 13, 2026: Columbus Crew 1-1 Orlando City (Draw, home)
- Apr 4, 2026: Atlanta United 1-3 Columbus Crew (Win, away)
The Crew have won two straight at home and look a different side on their own turf. Their only league defeat since late March came at Gillette Stadium on April 18 — a blip on an otherwise improving road of form. Arfsten has been the chief architect, especially with Wessam Abou Ali out for the season.
Minnesota United — L W W W W
- Apr 24, 2026: Minnesota United 0-1 Los Angeles (Loss, home)
- Apr 22, 2026: Dallas 0-1 Minnesota United (Win, away)
- Apr 18, 2026: Minnesota United 2-0 Portland Timbers (Win, home)
- Apr 11, 2026: San Diego 1-2 Minnesota United (Win, away)
- Apr 4, 2026: LA Galaxy 1-2 Minnesota United (Win, away)
The Saturday home loss to LAFC snapped a four-game winning run for the Loons — three of those wins came on the road, which tells you something about their away-day resilience. Yeboah and Pereyra powered that sequence, and Minnesota will be keen to put the LAFC defeat behind them quickly. The turnaround to Saturday is tight off the back of midweek US Open Cup action, and that could count against the side that has to travel.
Columbus Crew vs Minnesota United Prediction
Columbus have the home advantage and the momentum — back-to-back wins on their own patch and danger men in Arfsten and Diego Rossi. Minnesota arrive off a home loss anda trip to California to take on San Jose in the Cup, with a lot of travel baked in. The Loons can hurt you — Yeboah and Pereyra are legitimate match-winners — but the conditions suit Columbus here. Back the Crew to win, and take both teams to score at bet365 for a two-bet combination that reflects both teams’ attacking quality this season. For more on the Crew’s home schedule, visit the Columbus Crew official site.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
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